Check-controlled mechanism.



C. C. TRAVIS, B. M. DAVIS & A. D. ANTOINE.

` CHECK coNTBoLLBD MHGHANISM.

APPLIUATION FILED 00T. 17, 1910.

1,024,537. I Patented Apr. l30, 1912.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

:OLUMBM PLANUGRAPH co..w/\SIIINGTDNv D. C.

C. C. TRAVIS, B. M. DAVIS L A. D. ANTINE.

CHECK CONTROLLED MEGHANISM. APPLICATION FILED 00T. 17, 1910.

Patented Am'` 30, 1912.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

EOLUMBIA FLANOCMP C0., WASHINGTON. D. C.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CLARENCE C. TRAVIS, IBETHUEL lVI. DAVIS, AND ALFRED D. ANTOINE, OFCHICAGO, ILLINOIS; SAID DAVIS AND ANTOINE ASSIGNORS 1"'0 SAID TRAVIS.

CHECK-CONTROLLED MECHANISM.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 30, 1912.

Application filed October 17, 1910. Serial No. 587,436.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, CLARENCE C. TRAVIS, BETHUEL M. DAVIS, and ALFRED D.ANTOINE, citizens of the United States, and residents of Chicago, in thecounty of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new anduseful Improvements in Check-Controlled Mechanism, of which thefollowing is a specification.v

This invention relates to improvements in check controlled mechanism forvending machines,A embodying a receptacle for delivering the commodityand one of the objects of the present invention is to provide improvedmeans whereby when the receptacle is released by the check it will beadvanced at a greater rate of speed than the speed of advancement of thecheck conveying means and in the same direction therewith, and improvedmeans whereby the check conveying means may be advanced beyond the limitof movement of the delivery receptacle to release or discharge thecheck.

A further object is to provide an improved elastic connection betweenthe check conveying means and the delivery receptacle u pon whichtension is created by the operation of the check conveying means in thedirection to release the receptacle, so that when the deliveryreceptacle is released by the check, the tension of the elasticconnection will be exerted upon the delivery receptacle to cause thelatter to spring forwardly.

A further object is to provide improved means for locking the receptacleagainst retrograde movement and improved means whereby the elasticconnection will serve to return the check conveying means to operatingposition after the check has been discharged therefrom, and improvedmeans for limiting such return movement.

A further object is to provide an improved device of this characterwhich will be simple, durable and cheap in construction and eective andefficient in operation.

To the attainment of these ends and the accomplishment of other new anduseful objects, as will appear, the invention consists in the featuresof novelty in the construction, combination and arrangement of theseveral parts hereinafter more fully described and claimed and shown inthe ac companying drawings illustrating an embodiment of the invention,and in which- Figure 1 is a detail side elevation of an improved deviceof this character constructed in accordance with the principles of thisinvention. Fig. 2 is an enlarged sectional view on line 2 2 of Fig. 1.Fig. 3 is a sectional view on line 3 3 of Fig. 7. Fig. 4 is a detailperspective view of the locking dog or retaining pawl for the deliveryre ceptacle. Fig. 5 is a detail view partly in sect-ion with the frontplate removed. Fig. 6 is a detail perspective view of the check or coindetector. Fig. 7 is a top plan view of Fig. 1. Fig. 8 is a detailsectional view showing the connection between the commodity deliveringreceptacle and the check conveying means.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, the numeral 10 designates aface plate which may be of any desired size and configuration, in whichis journaled one extremity of the shaft 11 of an operating handle 12.Secured to the shaft 11 and adjacent the face of the plate 10 oppositeto that adjacent which the operating handle 12 is located is a check orcoin conveyer which is preferably-in the form of a disk 13 having aplurality of pockets or check receptacles 14:, and this disk 13 islocated in close proximity to the face of the plate and is locatedbetween the plate 10 and a second plate 15. These plates 10 and 15coperate with the check receptacles or pockets to hold the check inposition to be advanced by the disk 13 when the handle 12 is rotated ina clock wise direction. Secured also to the shaft 11 and in closeproximity to the rear face of the disk 13 is a disk or wheel 16 providedwith spaced peripheral teeth 17. The plate 15 is preferably recessed orcutaway at its lower edge as at 1Sa so that a portion of the peripheryof the disk 13 will extend into the cut away portion, as shown in Fig.2, thereby permitting the inner face of the disk 13 to standsubstantially flush with the inner face of the plate 15. The teeth 17 onthe disk 16 are preferably of a length that their extremities willterminate adjacent the periphery of the disk 13 and these teeth orprojections 17 coperate with a coin detector 18. The detector 18 issupported in any desired or suitable manner but preferably by oneextremity thereof which is secured to a suitable support preferably theplate 13 by means of a suitable fastening device 19.

The free extremity of the detector projects over the disk 13 so as toextend into the space between two adjacent teeth 17 on the disk 1G andan elastic member 20, such as a leaf spring or the like, is providedwhich tends normally to hold the free extremity 21 of the detector inthe space between two adjacent teeth 1T. This detector is providedadjacent its free end with a lateral projection 21, which is adapted toenter the pookets 1l in the check conveying disk 18 when no check is inthe pocket or when a bogus check is inserted therein and which check isnot of the proper thickness. The free extremity of the detector 18 isrecessed as at 22 to form a shoulder 23 and the lateral pro jection 21is beveled as shown so thatwhen the check 2d, of a proper denominationor value, is advanced by the check conveying disk 13 its edge willengage the inclined or beveled projection 21 on the detect-or 1S to morethe latter so as to move the shoulder 23 out of the path of movement ofthe advancing projection 17 on the disk 16, and against the tension ofthe elastic member 20 so as to permit the tooth or projection 1T to passthe projection 21. lifter this tooth or projection 17 has passed theprojection 21 the elastic member will force the detector 18 back to itsorginal position to cause the projection 21 thereon to enter the nextcoin pocket or receptacle 141 and also to move the shoulder` 23 on thedetector into the path of n'iovement of the next advancing tooth orprojection 1T.

ln order to prevent displacement of the detector 155 by a retrogrademovement of the disk 16 through the medium of the handle 12, the freeextremity of the detector is adapted to move between guides orprojections 2-1 which extend laterally from any suitable support,preferably the plate 13 as shown more clearly in ltig. 2.

Connected for operation with the check conveying disk 13 is a commodityreceptacle which may be of any desirable contigui-ation but preferablyin the form of a horizontally disposed drum provided with pockets 2G,and this drum is rotatably supported at one end in any suitable mannerand at its other end is provided with a tubular extension 2 whichterminates adjacent the rear face of the plate 10. This tubularextension 2T is adapted to receive the extremity of a shaft or axle 28which projects laterally from the disks 13 and 1G. ik ratchet wheel 29is secured to the extension 27 of the receptacle and this ratchet wheelis provided with notches or recesses 30 opening through the peripherythereof and the bottom of these notches or recesses are also providedwith additional notches or recesses 31 opening through the periphery.Any number of the notches or recesses 30, 31, may be provided but thereis j neferably provided one pair of each of the pockets 2G of thecommodity delivering receptacle 25. The receptacle 25 .is connected tothe check conveying means for operation thereby by means of an elasticmember 32, preferably in the form of a coil spring. This elastic membersurrounds the tubular extension and the adjacent portion of the shaft oraxle 28 and also a lug or projection 33 on the ratchet disk or wheel. 29and a similar lug or projection 3l. on the disk 1G so as to be supportedand held in position. One extremity of the elastic member 32 engages alug or projection 3G on the disk or ratchet wheel 29 and the otherextremity 3T of the elastic member engages a similar lug or projection3S on the disk 16. The elastic member is so arranged that when thereceptacle 25 held against rotation, and the handle 12 is rotated in aclockwise direction, it will be wound to create a tension thereon.

Any suitable means may be provided for retaining the receptacle 25 andthe disk or ratchet wheel 29 against rotation during the initialadvancement of the check conveying means or disk 13 so that a tensionwill be 95 created upon the elastic member. A suitable and etlicientmeans for accomplishing this result comprises a retaining dog or pawl 39which is pivotally supported by one extremity as at ett). The otherextremity is preferably provided with a lateral projection Ll1 which isadapted to enter the recesses 30 and 31, in the disk 29. This retainingdog or pawl is also provided with a lateral projection or ear L12 whichis preferably located adjacent the free extremity thereof and extendsfrom the side of the dog or pawl opposite to that from which theprojection -1-1 extends. The dog or pawl is so located that theprojection l2 will stand in close proximity to the free end of thedetector 18 and extends across the space between the plates 10 and 15(as shown more clearly in Fig. 7) so that the edge of the check 2li willengage the projection 42 just after the check has moved the shoulder 3of the detector 18 out of the path of move ment of the advancingprojection 17 on the disk 1G, so as to rock the dog or pawl 89 about itspoint of pivotal support l() to move the projection 11 thereon out ofthe notch or recess 31 in the disk or ratchet wheel 29. As the checkengages the projection ll1 on the dog or pawl 39 it will rock the latteragainst the tension of the elastic member 18 to release the receptacle25.

During the advancement of the check conveying disk 13 in a clockwisedirection, from the point at which the check 2-l is dcposited thereonuntil the edge of the check engages the projection 42 on the dog or pawl39, the spring or elastic member 32 will be wound or a tension will becreated thereon owing to the fact that one end of this elastic memberand the disk 29 is locked against rotation. After the check has shiftedthe dog or pawl 39 to release the disk 29 and the receptacle 25, thetension which has thus been created on the elastic member 32 will snapor move the receptacle 25 forwardly at a greater rate of speed than theadvancement of the check conveying disk 13. The receptacle will continueits independent advancement under the inliucnce of the elastic member 32until a lug or projection 44 on the disk or ratchet wheel 29 and whichprojects laterally therefrom, engages an arm or extension 45 which issecured for rotation with the axle 28, when such independent advancementof the receptacle will be arrested. This projection 44 will engage theprojection 45 at a time when the check has passed beyond the beveledprojection 21 on the detector 18 so that the check conveying disk 13will be locked against retrograde movement, and at a time when theprojection 41 on the dog or pawl 39 enters one of the recesses 30 whichwill also lock the receptacle 25 and the ratchet wheel or disk 29against retrograde movement. As the handle 12 is further moved inclockwise direction, the check will be further advanced by the disk 13and will fall from the pocket 14. The receptacle will be furtheradvanced by the elastic member 32 until the projection 41 on the dog orpawl 39 enters the recess 31 and the receptacle will then be locked inposition to receive another supply. The lug or projection 44 on the diskor wheel 29 also cooperates with the arm or projection 45 to limit theretrograde movement of the handle 12 and the check conveying disk 13 andalso serves as a means for positioning the pocket 14 to receive thecheck.

In the event that the elastic member 32 fails to operate to snap or movethe receptacle 25 forwardly to discharge the commodity when thereceptacle is released, a projection 46 similar to the projection 44 maybe provided on the disk or ratchet wheel 29 and is arranged to beengaged by the arm or projection 45 after the check detector 18 has beenshifted, so that it will start to move the disk or wheel 29 and thereceptacle 25 forwardly. v

rIhe arm or projection 45 may be formed in any suitable manner but ispreferably formed integral with the disk 18 which latter is preferablyformed of sheet metal cut out so as to form an extension which isadapted to be bent to form the lateral projection or arm 45 and is alsocut out so as to form the peripheral projections 17.

As the material is discharged from the pockets 26 vof the receptacle 25it may be delivered to the customer through a delivery chute 47. Inorder to prevent the check 24 from being wedged into the pockets 14 whenit engages the detecto-r and the dog or pawl 39 and in order to furnishmeans for ejecting the check from the pocket after it has passed thesetwo elements, a pin or projection 48 may be provided, which preferablyprojects laterally from the plate 10 and eX- tends into the pockets 14adjacent the bot-x tcm thereof and at a point in proximity to the pointwhere the check engages the detector and the dog. When the check isadvanced in a clockwise direction from the position shown in Fig. 5, theedge of the check will engage the projection 48 justas it engages tliedog 39 as shown in dotted lines in F ig. 5 and the check will thereby beprevented from becoming wedged into the pocket as it engages and ridesover the projection 48, which latter also serves to eject the check.

With this improved construction it will be apparent that immediatelyupon the receptacle 25 becoming released or unlocked, the elastic memberwill force the same forwardly so quickly that it will be almostimpossible to arrest its forward movement and the receptacle will belocked against retrograde movement before the check is discharged fromthe check conveying disk, while at the same time the check conveyingdisk will also be locked against retrograde movementafter it has passedor partially passed the detector.

What is claimed as new is:

1. In a device of the character described, the combination with checkcontrolled mechanism embodying a check conveyer, and means foroperatingv the latter, of means movable independent-ly of the conveyerfor delivering a commodity and having a constant direction of movement,means for operating the last said means, and means whereby the operationofthe check conveying means will create a tension on the last recitedoperating means.

2. In a device of the character described, the combination with checkcontrolled mechanism embodying a check conveyer and having a constantdirection of movement and means for operating'the latter, of meansmovable independently of and having a const-ant direction of movement inthe same direction as the check conveyer for delivering a commodity,means for operating the last said means, and means whereby the operationof the check conveying means will create a tension on the last recitedoperating means.

3. In a device of the character described, the combination with checkcontrolled mechanism embodying a check conveyer and means for operatingthe latter, of means having a constant direction of movement and movableindependently of the check conveyer for delivering a commodity, meanstor operating the last said means, means embodying a retainer torlocking the commodity delivering means against operation whereby theoperation of the check conveyer will create a tension upon the lastrecited operating means, and means whereby the retaining means will beactuated by the check to release the commodity delivery means.

4. In a device of the character described, the combination with checkcontrolled mechanism embodying a check conveyer and means for operatingthe latter, of means having a constant direction of movement and movableindependently of the check conveyer for delivering a commodity, elasticmeans for operating the last said means, means embodying a retainer forlocking the commodity delivering means against operation whereby theoperation of the check conveyer will create a tension upon the saidelastic means, and means whereby the retaining means will be actuated bythe check to release the commodity delivering means.

5. In a device ot' the character described, the combination with meansfor delivering a commodity and having a constant direction ot movement,of check controlled mechanism embodying a check conveyer also having aconstant direction of movement and means for locking the commoditydelivering means against operation, and means rendered operative by theactuation of the check conveyer for actuating the said commoditydelivering means when the said locking means is tripped to release thelatter.

6. In a device of the character described, the combination with meanstor delivering a commodity and having a constant direction of movement,of check controlled mechanism embodying a check conveyer, a checkdetector, and means for locking the commodity delivering means againstoperation, and means rendered operative by the actuation oi the checkconveyer for actuating the said commodity delivery means when the saidlocking means is tripped to release the latter.

7. In a device of the character described, the combination with meansfor delivering a commodity and having a constant direction ot' movement,of check controlled mech` anism embodying a check conveyer, a checkdetector and means for locking the commodity delivering means againstoperation, means for operating the check conveyer, an elastic connectionbetween the said operating means and the commodity delivering means,said operating means being adapted when actuated to create a tension ofthe elastic connection to actuate the commodity delivering means whenthe latter is released,

and means whereby the check will trip the said locking means aftertension has been created upon the elastic connection.

8. In a device of the class described, the combination with means fordelivering a commodity and having a constant direction of operation, ofcheck controlled mechanism embodying a check conveyer, a check1detector, and means tor locking the commodity delivering means againstoperation operating means common to both the check conveyer and thedetector, an elastic connection between the said operating means and thecommodity delivering means, said operating means being adapted whenactuated to create a tension of the elastic connection to actuate thecommodity delivering means when the latter is released, and meanswhereby the check will trip the said locking means after tension hasbeen created upon the elastic connection.

9. In a device of the character described, the combination with meanshaving a constant direction of motion for delivering a commodity, ofcheck controlled mechanisim operating means for the latter, an elasticconnection between the commodity delivering means and the said operatingmeans and means whereby tension will be exerted upon the elastic meansby the actuation of the said operating means for actuating the commoditydelivering means.

l0. In a device of the character described, the combination with meanshaving a constant direction of motion for delivering a commodity, ofcheck controlled mechanism having a forward and retrograde movement,operating means for the check controlled means, an elastic connectionbetween the operating means and the commodity delivering means, andmeans whereby tension will be exerted upon the elastic means by theactuation of the said operating means for actuating the commoditydelivering means.

ll. In a device of the character described, the combination with meanshaving' a constant direction of motion for delivering a commodity, otcheck controlled mechanism having a forward and retrograde movement,operating means for the check controlled means, an elastic connectionbetween the operating means and the commodity delivering means, meanswhereby tension will be exerted upon the elastic means by the actuationot' the said operating means for actuating the commodity deliveringmeans, and means for arresting the retrograde movement of the checkcontrolled means.

l2. In a device ot the character described, the combination with meanshaving a constant direction of motion Jfor delivering a commodity, ofcheck controlled mechanism having a forward and retrograde movement,operating means for the check controlled means, an elastic connectionbetween the operating means and the commodity delivering means, meanswhereby tension will be exerted upon the elastic means by the actuationof the said operating means for actuating the commodity deliveringmeans, and interengaging means operatively related to the checkcontrolled means and the commodity delivering means for arresting theretrograde movement of the said check controlled means.

13. In a device of the character described, the combination with meansfor delivering a commodity and having a constant direction of motion, ofcheck controlled mechanism having a forward and retrograde mechanism andembodying a check detector adapted to arrest the forward movement of thesaid mechanism, operating means for said mechanism, an elasticconnection between the latter and the commodity delivering means, andmeans whereby tension will be exerted in the elast-ic connection by theactuation of the said operating means for actuating the commoditydelivering means.

14. In a device of the character described, the combination with meansfor delivering a commodity and having av constant direction of mot-ion,of check controlled mechanism having a forward and retrograde mechanismand embodying a check detector adapted to arrest the forward movement ofthe said mechanism, operating means for said mechanism, an elasticconnection between the latter and the commodity delivering means, meanswhereby tension will be exerted in the elastic connection by theactuation of the said operating means for actuating the commoditydelivering means, and a stop for limiting the retrograde movement of thecheck controlled mechanism.

15. In a device of the character described, the combination with meansfor delivering a commodity and having a constant direction of motion, ofcheck controlled mechanism having a forward and retrograde mechanism andembodying` a check detector adapted to arrest the forward movement ofthe said mechanism, operating means for said mechanism, an elasticconnection between the latter and the commodity delivering means, meanswhereby tension will be exerted in the elastic connection by theactuation of the said operating means for actuating the commoditydelivering means, and interengaging means operatively related to thecommodity delivering means and the check controlled means and movablerespectively therewith, for limiting the retrograde movement of thecheck controlled means.

16. In a device of the character described, the combination of arotatable commodity delivering receptacle having a constant direction ofrotation, check controlled means,

means for operating the latter, a loose connection between the saidoperating means and the receptacle and an elastic member surrounding theconnection and with the extremities secured respectively to thereceptacle and the said operating means, said check controlled meansembodying a ratchet disk secured for rotation with the receptacle and aretaining dog cooperating therewith adapted to lock the receptacleagainst rotation whereby the operation of the check controlled mechanismwill create a tension on the elastic member to actuate the receptaclewhen released, said dog being adapted to be tripped by the check torelease the receptacle.

17 In a device of the character described, the combination of arotatable commodity delivering receptacle having a constant direction ofrotation, check controlled means embodying a check detector, means foroperating the latter, a loose connection between the said operatingmeans and the receptacle, and an elastic member surrounding theconnection and with the extremities secured respectively to thereceptacle and the said operating means, said check controlled meansalso embodying a ratchet disk secured for rotation with the receptacleand a retaining dog coperating therewith adapted to lock the receptacleagainst rotation, whereby the operation of the check controlledmechanism will create a tension on the elastic member to actuate thereceptacle when released, said dog being adapted to be tripped by thecheck to release the receptacle.

18. In a device of the character described, the combination of arotatable commodity delivering receptacle having a constant direction ofmovement, check controlled means having a forward and a retrogrademovement, means for operating the check controlled means, a looseconnect-ion between the said operating means and the receptacle, and anelastic connection between the said operating means and the receptacle,and an elastic member surrounding the connection and with itsextremities secured respectively to the receptacle and the saidoperating means, said check controlled means embodying aratchet disksecured for rotation with the receptacle and a retaining dog coperatingtherewith and adapted to lock the re-v ceptacle against rotation,whereby the operation of the check controlled mechanism will createtension on the elastic member to actuate the receptacle when released,said dog being adapted to be tripped by the check to release thereceptacle.

19. In a device of the character described, the combination of arotatable commodity delivering receptacle having a constant direction ofmovement, check controlled means having a forward and a retrogrademoverfc ment, means 'for operating the check controlled means, a looseconnection between the said operating means and the receptacle, and anelastic connection between the said operating means and the receptacle,an elastic member surrounding the connection and with its extremitiessecured respectively to the receptacle and the said operating means,said check controlled means embodying a ratchet disk secured torrotation with the receptacle and a retaining dog cooperating therewithand adapted to lock the receptacle against rotation whereby theoperation ot the check cont-rolled mechanism will create a tension onthe elastic member to actuate the receptacle when released, said dogbeing adapted to be tripped by the check to release the receptacle, anda stop for lin'iiting the said retrograde movement.

20. In a device of the character described, the combination of checkcontrolled mechanism, operating means therefor, a rotatable receptaclefor delivering a commodity having a constant direction of rotation andemf bodying a ratchet disk, said disk being provided with a lateralprojection, an elastic connection between the said operatingmeans andthe said receptacle, means whereby the actuation ot the said operatingmeans will create a tension on the elastic connection to actuate thereceptacle when released, and means operatively related to the saidoperating means and cooperating with the said stop tor impartingmovement to the said receptacle.

21. In a device of the character described, the combination of checkcontrolled mecha nism, operating means therefor including a rotatablehandle having a forward and retrograde movement, a receptacle fordelivering a commodity having a constant direction of movement andembodying a ratchet disk having a constantdirection ot' rotation andprovided with a lateral projection rotatable therewith, an elasticconnection between the operating handle and the receptacle, meanswhereby a tension will be created on the elast-ie member for operatingthe receptacle when the latter is released, and an arm operativelyconnected with the said handle and rotatable therewith, and adapted toengage the projection to limit the retrograde movement of the handle.

In a device of the character described, the combination of checkcontrolled mechanism, operating means therefor including a rotatablehandle having a forward and retrograde movement, a receptacle tordelivering a commodity having a constant direction of rotation andembodying a ratchet disk also having a constant direction of rotationand provided with a lateral projection rotatable therewith, an elasticconnection between the operating handle and the receptacle, meanswhereby a tension will be created on the elastic member for operatingthe receptacle when the latter is released, an arm operatively connectedwith the said handle and rotatable therewith and adapted to engage theprojection to limit the retrograde movement of the handle, there being asecond projection on the disk adapted to be engaged by the arm duringits forward movement to start the receptacle upon failure of the elasticmember to move the same.

In testimony whereof we have signed our names to this specification, inthe presence of two subscribing witnesses, on this 15th day ot OctoberA. D. 1910.

CLARENCE C. TRAVIS. BETIIUEL M. DAVIS. ALFRED D. ANTOINE. lVitnesses J.II. JocHUM, Jr., C. II. SEEM.

@oplet of this patent may be obtained for ve cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents. Washington, D. C.

